Creating spaces for inclusivity and accessibility has fast become a priority for experiential designers. With 2017 bringing a close to a year’s worth of progress, the question everyone is asking is – are we there yet?

At Access 2017 in Brisbane wayfinders from across Australia came together to discuss just this. Hosted by the Association of Consultants in Access Australia this event was a forum for discussion on progress made and the innovation that supports it.

Prominent experts including Alistair McEwan, Disability Discrimination Commissioner for Australia spoke about the changing landscape of wayfinding for accessibility. Our own Stephen Minning was honoured to have the opportunity to discuss his experience wayfinding in accessible spaces like airports and universities.

According to Stephen, however, wayfinding as you know it is dead. With spaces always in flux, using traditional planning and maintenance methods are near impossible. When you consider implementing connectivity and inclusivity of this area, the need to change the approach is even more essential.

One particular sticking point for this change is the use of printed maps, the most traditional and slow evolving forms of wayfinding. With the future point toward GPS technology after the rise of google maps, facilities must adapt to this new standard. In doing so, wayfinders must control the maps and place them in visitors hands.

In doing this, the accessibility component is part of already ingrained device use. Controlling these personal wayfinding options means providing text to speech and translation behaviours. Stephen went on to demonstrate the capability of the PAM personal wayfinding app to deliver this in an easy to navigate way. The foundation of the PAM app – the human experience.

Find out more about PAM personal wayfinding in action.